Romantic comedies are, for the most part, an exception to the general maxim that, as surely as night follows day, every successful film will be followed by a sequel. The whole point of a rom-com is to tell the story of how a particular couple fall in love, and falling in love is something which, generally speaking, most couples only do once. This explains why no sequels were ever made to "Four Weddings and a Funeral" or "Notting Hill", even though they were two of the best British romantic comedies of the nineties. Paul Hogan did make a sequel to "Crocodile Dundee", but "Crocodile Dundee 2", unlike its predecessor, was not so much a romantic comedy as a comic adventure story whose protagonists just happened to be husband and wife.

With "Bridget Jones's Diary" things were different. Because Helen Fielding had written a follow-up to her first novel, there was an expectation that the second novel would also be filmed. "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" was the result. At the beginning of the film Bridget and her barrister boyfriend Mark Darcy are still together. Following a quarrel, however, they split up, partly as a result of Mark's failure to commit to marriage, partly as a result of Bridget's unjustified suspicion that Mark is having an affair with his attractive colleague Rebecca Gilles. Bridget meets her former lover Daniel Cleaver, who offers her a job presenting a television travel show called "The Smooth Guide". (This is presumably a reference to the well-known "Rough Guide" series of travel books, but there is also a play on the word "smoothie" in the sense of "charming but untrustworthy man"). Daniel, of course, proves himself to be a smoothie in precisely this sense, leaving Bridget to be rescued by Mark when she is arrested in Thailand on drugs charges.

It may be the case that every successful film is followed by a sequel. That is not the same as saying that every successful film is followed by an equally successful sequel; indeed, it has become one of the standard received ideas of film criticism to say that, apart from "Godfather II", sequels are invariably worse than the original film. Like a number of received ideas, this one contains a good deal of truth, and although there have been some good sequels, "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason" is not among them.

The main problem is that it simply repeats, with minor variations, the basic plot of the original film. Bridget becomes involved with Daniel, finds him to be charming but untrustworthy, and falls back on the more emotionally reticent, but also more solid and reliable, Mark, and the viewer is left feeling "So what? I've seen that story before". What was once fresh now seems stale. There is no attempt to develop the characters any further; the only difference is that Bridget's infatuation with Daniel evokes less sympathy the second time around, as she should have known from previous experience what a rotter he is. The Thai drug smuggling plot was hackneyed in the extreme. The Western media have three standard clichés about Thailand- prostitution, transvestitism and drugs- all of which are faithfully trotted out here. (One can only wonder what the Thais themselves make of this treatment of their country). The supposed "surprise revelation" about Rebecca could be seen coming a mile away.

There have recently been rumours that a third film in the franchise is to be made. Given the relative failure of "Bridget Jones II", can we hope that "Bridget Jones III" will be any better? 5/10 Some goofs. Mark refers to his "partners", but barrister, unlike solicitors, do not practise in partnership, and no barrister would refer to his colleagues in chambers in this way. There is no such body as the "Law Council"; the scriptwriter appears to have confused the Law Society (the solicitors' professional association) with the Bar Council (the professional body for barristers).

A great soundtrack and the delightful performance of Renee Zwelleger aren't good enough reasons for this "Bridget Jones" sequel: "Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason," the 2004 film starring Hugh Grant and Colin Firth as Bridget's suitors. The film continues as the relationship between Bridget and Mark develops, with Bridget's insecurities driving it toward disaster. Because of a promotion, Daniel is back in her life again - but out just as quickly. To top it off, she winds up in a Thai prison, and while there, she teaches fellow prisoners the right moves to "Like a Virgin." Finding enough of a plot to for a feature-length script was obviously tough, so tough, in fact, that large parts of it become music videos. Everyone is very good, but one can't help asking why someone like Mark puts up with Bridget. They're not a realistic couple. At all.

I'd have been furious if I'd paid to see this in a theater; in fact, I would have been unhappy if I had rented it. I saw it for free on TV and on that basis, it's okay and fun to see the actors and listen to the songs. Alas, it's the only way to see it without feeling you've been had.

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:

Let me start by saying I really really REALLY wanted to like this movie. I absolutely love the first one and though I am aware of the fact that sequels, in many, actually most, cases are bad I hoped against hope that this one would be the exception.

I was wrong. This wasn't good but not only that, it bordered on camp. Before I saw this I'd never have thought that Bridget Jones the sequel could be anything less then at least slightly above average, say a 6 or so. Not so. Everything that made the first a classic is gone here.

The movie seems to have one purpose and that's break up Bridget and Mark, have all these outrageous things happen to Bridget and then get the two of them back together. That's it. That's the movie. The first movie was a story. A wonderful, delightfully sweet tale of a single woman attempting to find her way in this world and her ultimate meeting of Mr. right. It is sweet, humorous, always interesting, well acted and ultimately delightful.

This movie The Edge of Reason is not a story. It's a series of forced, over the top events that almost turns the whole story of Bridget Jones into an unrealistic, bad soap opera like, fantasy. It's almost a parody of a lifetime movie. I didn't expect this to be of the original's caliber but I had no idea it would be like this.

The movie is so forced it is almost painful to watch. The things that happen to Bridget are not believable. The whole thing with her winding up in prison seemed almost a last minute add on and came out of nowhere, and actually it's really not the kind of thing to turn into a joke anyway. Even her almost getting back with Grant didn't ring true. And there wasn't much that was funny either. The story had no cohesiveness and not even much of a plot except to keep Zelwgger and Firth apart or squabbling.

All the music got on my nerves after awhile. That thing with Rebecca declaring her love didn't ring true. The split between Bridget and Mark in the first place didn't ring true. Nothing rung true. What was the point?

The first Bridget Jones was such a hit because it was GOOD. It was believable and entertaining and cohesive and just plain funny all at once. This was none of that. It wasn't a 1 or 2 but did come close to being turn off in midstream material several times. Ultimately the one main good thing it had going for it is they didn't change the cast though they seem to have changed everything else.

The performers were fine, great, no problem there. The ending was happy. Good, Bridget And Mark are likable, very likable, both individually and together so that's a good thing. But who'd have ever thought that the sequel to Bridget Jones could be IRRITATING? I loved the first one so much and really wanted to like this. Unfortunately that was not to be. Hopefully no part three unless by some miracle they can eliminate the problems that were so present in this one. 4 of 10 is my vote.